“HEADWATERS OF TECHNOLOGY” Integrating a GPS mobile workforce with GIS data collection and management By Jeffrey Mihalik GIS Department Manager Wallace & Pancher, Inc.

INTRODUCTION Background The Project –Two Types of Monitoring SCM (Stream Condition) and Flow Tools & Equipment Base Mapping Custom Forms Mobile Workforce Deployment Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery to the Client Advantages and Client usage Supporting Projects

Background Coal Operators required by PADEP Monitor (and if necessary, Mitigate) stream flow losses and/or pooling Monitor (and if necessary, Mitigate) stream flow losses and/or pooling due to full extraction underground mining due to full extraction underground mining No “Surface Water Protection – Underground Bituminous No “Surface Water Protection – Underground Bituminous Coal Mining Operations” effective Oct. 8, Known as “TGD” Coal Mining Operations” effective Oct. 8, Known as “TGD” Dramatically increased number of streams that needed monitored Dramatically increased number of streams that needed monitored (to include all streams that contain at least two biological taxa) (to include all streams that contain at least two biological taxa) Dramatic increase in frequency of monitoring Dramatic increase in frequency of monitoring

Stream Condition Monitoring (SCM) - the process of identifying the various states of flow or “condition” of stream segments. Types of Monitoring SCM involves traversing a stream from its downstream confluence to its headwaters Determine the starting and end point (distance) Various stream flow regimes such as flow, puddle, pool, dry, and non-continuous flow.

Stream Condition Monitoring FLOWINGDRY POOLPUDDLENON-CONTINUOUS FLOW

Flow Monitoring - development of a discharge value at an established point for use as a hydrological baseline. Types of Monitoring Direct Flow Measurements are taken at specific locations along each stream Location based on access, proximity to mining operations, and stream characteristics. Flow measurements are currently being gathered at over 800 locations.

Equipment NOMAND GPS units installed with ESRI ArcPad with GPS Correct and Custom Data Forms HONEY DIPPERS for Well and Pizometer HACH/Marsh McBirney FlowMates

Base Mapping Networked hydrological layer (National Hydrography Dataset) 2,000 individual stream segments (over 500 miles of stream) 2,000 individual stream segments (over 500 miles of stream) Individually labeled in ArcMap using an established five digit coding Individually labeled in ArcMap using an established five digit coding by PADEP and modified by WPI for smaller unnamed segments by PADEP and modified by WPI for smaller unnamed segments Planimetric layers: Contours, structures, roads, tree lines Planimetric layers: Contours, structures, roads, tree lines CADD Stationing every twenty feet and annotation CADD Stationing every twenty feet and annotation All layers exported to shapefile format for upload to GPS units All layers exported to shapefile format for upload to GPS units

Base Mapping 19 Miles

Base Mapping Document the relative location of various stream conditions as streams are traversed

Custom Forms Developed in ArcPad Studio (7.1.1) as.apl files Calculations for the 4 flow measurements methods Calculations for the 4 flow measurements methods Small Stream Velocity-Area Small Stream Velocity-Area Large Stream Velocity-Area Large Stream Velocity-Area Volumetric Volumetric Float Float CFS and GPM derived in the field CFS and GPM derived in the field Build From/To tables for dynamic segmetation for SCM data Build From/To tables for dynamic segmetation for SCM data Table relationship links table to stream data Table relationship links table to stream data Also tracks date, time, crew, comments, and domain dropdown menus Also tracks date, time, crew, comments, and domain dropdown menus

Custom Forms Flow Monitoring

Custom Forms SCM Monitoring

Mobile Workforce Implementation Tight schedule allowed for only one month of field testing Staff for field data collection and GIS analysis Staff for field data collection and GIS analysis Location of field office in close proximity to field work Location of field office in close proximity to field work Rigorous training in use of field equipment Rigorous training in use of field equipment Data strategy to deliver collected information within 48 hours Data strategy to deliver collected information within 48 hours (everything works well on paper) (everything works well on paper)

Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery Distributed SDE Geodatabase in SQLExpress ArcPad Data Manager (in ArcMap) used to “Check out” data to.axf file ArcPad Data Manager (in ArcMap) used to “Check out” data to.axf file for upload to Nomad GPS units for upload to Nomad GPS units Custom forms linked as.apl files during “Check out” Custom forms linked as.apl files during “Check out” After flow and SCM data collected,.axf files from each GPS unit After flow and SCM data collected,.axf files from each GPS unit are “Checked in” (Transactional Database) are “Checked in” (Transactional Database)

Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery

GIS staff conducts QAQC using hardcopy field reconnaissance forms Flow data used for updating geodatabase, then replica database Flow data used for updating geodatabase, then replica database (Production Database) synchronized (Production Database) synchronized Replica tied to Geodata and Map Services in ArcServer Replica tied to Geodata and Map Services in ArcServer Client has replicate database Client has replicate database Nightly synchronization using python scripting, model builder, and Nightly synchronization using python scripting, model builder, and windows task manager windows task manager SCM data used for creating route event tables (From – To) SCM data used for creating route event tables (From – To) From – To tables used for dynamic segmentation to visualize From – To tables used for dynamic segmentation to visualize stream conditions stream conditions

Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery

Stream Conditioning Monitoring Limitations of Map Presentation Exaggerated lengths of various stream conditionsExaggerated lengths of various stream conditions Overlapping linesOverlapping lines Unreadable textUnreadable text

Data Storage, Processing, and Delivery Stream Conditioning Monitoring Map Presentation Solution (Especially for daily and weekly mapping) Using straight line representations of stream this eliminates overlapping lines and increases scalability

Client Usage and Advantages Client utilizes an internal ArcGIS Service Replicate database of Flow Monitoring Points displays field collected Replicate database of Flow Monitoring Points displays field collected data within 24 hours of collection data within 24 hours of collection Previously, data was not available often for 3 or 4 weeks Previously, data was not available often for 3 or 4 weeks was hand entered into database was hand entered into database Almost instantaneous access to data allows client ability to foresee Almost instantaneous access to data allows client ability to foresee issues before they arise (Change Detection) issues before they arise (Change Detection) Have current geo-spatial data inhand to answer complex questions Have current geo-spatial data inhand to answer complex questions Assess environmental concerns in almost real time Assess environmental concerns in almost real time

Supporting Projects Web Site for Historical Data Retrieval (Flow, Well, Gauge Stations) Intranet ArcGIS Services for Staff use Intranet ArcGIS Services for Staff use

Supporting Projects Web Site for Historical Data Retrieval (Flow, Well, Gauge Stations)

Supporting Projects Well Data

Model Builder- Pushes Collected Data into Historical Feature Data Set in SDE

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION